affecting the Corn- Crops. 
471 
price of wheat at that time was 8y. per bushel. Wo liere observe 
one-fifth part of the quantity sown was destroyed by these noxious 
insects." 
From data furnished by a gentleman of great experience and 
observation,* Mr. W. calculated that " the quantity of wheat 
lessened to the market by the depredations of the VVireworms is 
very frequently, if not annually, 60,000 bushels ; which occasions 
to the farmer an additional expense of at least 15,750/." This 
was merely the value of the seed resown on clover lays, old pas- 
tures recently broken up, pea and bean stubble, &c., dibbling in 
and harrowing. 
2. Harpalus ? or Ground-beetle. — Figure 5 represents a curious 
larva, two of which were transmitted to me dead, in February, 1841, 
by a gentleman f who considered they were injuring his corn in a 
similar manner to the Wireworms. As he did not succeed, 1 be- 
lieve, in rearing them, I cannot determine what beetle they would 
produce, but probably some Carabideous species, in which case 1 
should be rather disposed to consider that they lived upon the 
Wireworms, &c., but this is not a natural consequence, as we shall 
shortly prove, for although most of the Carabidae are carnivorous, 
there are some which feed upon the corn-crops both in their larva 
and beetle states. 
This larva is 4| hues long, hairy, of an ochreous colour, ha\"ing 
an enormous head, but tapering towards the tail, which is rust- 
coloured ; the face is sloped off gently, with a group of minute 
black dots on each side, looking like eyes ; the two antennae are 
porrected, slender, hairy, and five-jointed; the jaws are very strong, 
not crossing, semilunate, toothed internally, the apex appearing 
pointed, but it is rounded and black ; the maxillDe are elongated, 
as well as the labial palpi, which are bi- articulate, the basal joint 
being the stoutest, the second long, incurved, slender, and tapering ; 
the maxillary palpi are shorter and bi-articulate ; the first thoracic 
segment is very broad and strong, of a ferruginous tint, the two 
following and the eight abdominal segments are of a dull ochreous 
tint, gradually tapering to the tail, which is furnished with a pre- 
hensile foot and two longish, tapering, articulated feelers; the sides 
of the body are margined and plaited : it has six pectoral jointed 
legs, spiny, and terminated by two long claws: fig. 5 ; fig. 6, the 
same magnified. 1 ought to state, that not having seen the animal 
alive, it is very probable the abdomen may have shrunk, and con- 
sequently may be represented not stout enough. 
The economy and history of the next depredator have been well 
investigated by the Grerman naturalists, and therefore are well 
• Allen Taylor, Esq., of Wimbush Hall, Essex, 
t W. J. Clark, Esq., of Buckland Tout Saint, Totness, Devon. 
